Thermostatic oil-cup.



E.- J. GRANT.

THERMOSTATIG' QIL CUP. APPLIGATIOH rum) JULY a1, 1900.

971 4406 Patented Sept 27, 1910.

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1m: NORRIS PETERS co.. WASHINGTON, n. c

TINTTED STATS PATENT EDWIN J. GRANT, OF SANDY PGI'NT, liiirINE.

TI-IERMUSTATIC OIL-CUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 31, 1909.

Patented Sept. 27, 1910.

Serial No. 519,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDwiN J. GRANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandy Point, in the county of W'aldo and State of Maine, have invented new and use ful ln'iprovements in Thermostatic Oil-Cups, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to oil cups, and particularly to a cup having thermostatic means for controlling the discharge of oil or lubricant therefrom, the object of the invention being to provide an improved construction of cup 01": this character.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section of an oil cup embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 of Fig. 1. ilzig. t is a horizontal section on line 14: of

The cup comprises in general a base 1, cap .2 and body or reservoir 3. The base and cap are preferably made of metal. The base particularly should be made of brass or other metal which is a good conductor of heat. Said base and cap are provided respectively with internally threaded flanges 4 and 5, which engage the externally threaded ends of the body, as shown, between which and the base and cap are elastic gaskets or washers 6 and 7 to form fluid tight joints. The body 3 is a hollow cylinder, preferably of glass and open at its ends, which are closed by the base and cap, respectively. The base is provided with the usual depending threaded stem 8, also of good conducting metal, for attachment to a bear ing and said stem is formed with an oil feed duct 8. As shown, the stem is externally threaded at its upper end for detachable connection with a teed tube 9 integral with the base, and which is internally threaded. for its reception.

l Vithin the feed tube 9 is arranged a sight tube 10, of glass or other suitable transparent material, which tube is clamped between the base and stem, elastic washers 11 and 12 being interposed to form tight joints. In diametrically opposite sides of the feed tube are formed observation openings 13 through which the sight tube is exposed,

whereby the feed of oil may be inspected from the exterior.

A socket 1 1 is formed in the stem and has fitted therein a holding tube 15 of brass or other good conducting material, which projects at its upper end into the sight tube. In the upper portion of said holding tube is arranged a plunger 16 having at its upper end a threaded socket receiving the threaded stem of an adjustable contact piece 17, in the form of a conical head carried by the stem. This plunger is adapted to descend by gravity and to be raised by thermostatic means comprising a thermostatic bar or column of mercury 18 in the lower portion of the holding tube.

The cap is provided with a filling cup 19 closed by a hinged or pivoted cover 20 and in communication with the body or reservoir through ports 21. From the center of the cap depends an internally threaded boss 22 receiving the upper threaded end of a valve casing 23 rising from the base, which casing extends through the boss into the filling cup and is engaged by a cap nut 24-.

The valve casing is in communication with the feed tube through a tapering feed port 25 and is provided with an inlet port 26 communicating with the reservoir. The ports 25 and 26 are controlled by a valve 27 having a contact finger 28 depending into the feed tube and a stem 29 extending upwardly through the casing and cap nut and threaded at its upper end to receive an adjusting nut 29. A spring 30 surrounds the stem and acts on the valve to normally hold it seated.

In the operation of my improved oil cup after the valve has been adjusted by the nut 29 the oil is permitted to pass by gravity drop by drop through the duct, and the sight tube enables the operator to readily adjust the valve and cause a suitable quantity of lubricantto be supplied to the bearing.

in the event that the valve is so adjusted that an insui'licient quantity of lubricant is fed to the bearing and the latter becomes heated, the heat of the bearing is communicated to the stem and base, which, as before stated, are good conductors of heat, so that the column of mercury in the tube 15 is caused to expand. Such expansion of the column of mercury in the tube causes the piston 16 to rise and its contact 17 to engage the finger 28 and elevate and open the valve against the tension of the spring 30 and so that an increased quantity of oil is caused to flow through the duct to the bearing. As the bearing cools, the column of mercury contracts, the piston drops to normal position and the spring causes the valve to be lowered until the valve regains the position in which it was set by the adjustment of the nut 29'.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise construction, combination, and arrangement of devices herein described and shown, as it is evident that modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims.

Iaving thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. An automatic oil cup comprising a reservoir having a depending stem, a sight tube arranged between the reservoir and stem, a spring-closed valve controlling communication between the reservoir and sight tube, a cylinder upon the stem projecting into the sight tube and containing a column of mercury, a plunger in said cylinder, and an ad j ustable contact piece carried by the plunger to engage and open the valve.

2. An automatic oil cup comprising a reservoir having a discharge port, a spring-ac tuated valve controlling said port, a sight tube into which the lower end of the valve extends, a guide tube supported below and in axial alinement with the valve, said tube projecting upwardly into the sight tube and having a column of mercury therein, a plunger in said guide tube, and a contact piece adjustably mounted upon the plunger, said contact piece being adapted to engage the lower end of the valve and having a sloping surface.

3. An automatic oil cup comprising a reservoir having a depending stem, and a sight tube arranged bet-ween the reservoir and stem, a spring-closed valve controlling communication between the reservoir and sight tube, a cylinder upon the stem projecting into the sight tube and containing a column of mercury, a plunger in said cylinder, and an adjustable contact piece carried by the plunger to engage and open the valve, said contact piece having a sloping surface.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN J. GRANT. lVitnesses HENRY HUDSON, ADDIE B. STooKwELL. 

